There’s a lot to the psychology of picking a seat in class. My school was pretty overcrowded, so every class had from fifteen to sometimes even thirty kids. If your school generally has small class sizes, then this post might not really apply to you. But it might. I dunno.
Seating choice #1: Up Front
No. Don’t do it. Don’t even think about it.* You know who sits up front? Nerds, goody-two-shoes, and those obnoxious kids who think they know everything but really don’t. Do you want anyone to like you? Or do you enjoy being in classes where everyone ostracizes you? Avoid these seats like the plague. Kids will automatically judge you if you choose the up front seat, and high school is a heck of a lot easier when you’re not seen as Hermione Granger. Trust me.
Seating choice #2: Middle ground
Also avoid. These are the forgettable seats. You don’t want to be one of the kids whose name the teacher doesn’t know. There is nothing special about these seats, and although you don’t particularly want to stand out, you need to at least have some separation. However, if you want to meet people, these are good picks, because you’re completely surrounded by other students. But ew. Who wants to meet people?
Seating choice #3: The Back
Sigh. If you sit in the back, you look like a delinquent. Simple as that. Teachers notice the kids who sit in the back, but not in a good way. There’s an automatic assumption that you don’t want to be involved/ don’t care about the class. And that’s not an assumption you want your teacher to make. It’s really hard to pay attention in the back, so if you want a good grade and a teacher who likes you, avoid. At all costs.
Seating choice checkpoint: Middle side.
Here’s your sweet spot. Remember these spots, kids. That’s where you want to be. You’re not far enough back to get distracted or feel like the teacher can’t see you so it’s ok to doze off. You’re not far enough to the front so that you look like an overeager nerd. And you’re separated enough so that you’ll be noticed, but not in a bad way. This is the seat for a kid who wants to make his/her own impression. Teachers have no outright opinions on this seat, which is good. Plus, if you sit here, you have to talk to less people, because there’s only one seat near you. But you’re not so anti-social that no one has the opportunity to approach you.**
Bonus tip! Questions.
If your teacher is the type of teacher that asks questions a lot, make sure you raise your hand to answer one early on. That way, there’s less of a chance that the teacher will call on you later for a question you don’t know. Participating early on gives off the illusion that you’re paying attention and know whats going on.
*Only in AP/Honors classes is this seating choice a good one. In those classes, you need to do everything you can to make the teachers like you. Especially when you anticipate needing to beg for extra credit.
**The side front seats sometimes have the same effect, especially in a big class. You’re not front and center like a nerd (we’ve been over this), but you look like you want to be engaged and you’re more likely to get called on because the teacher has a clear view of you.
